Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

तेषां नामानि वक्ष्यामि सनकश्च सनन्दनः । सनत्कुमारश्च विभुः सनातन इति स्मृतः ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

teṣāṃ nāmāni vakṣyāmi sanakaśca sanandanaḥ | sanatkumāraśca vibhuḥ sanātana iti smṛtaḥ || 4 ||

Translation

ମୁଁ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ନାମ କହୁଛି—ସନକ, ସନନ୍ଦନ, ବିଭୁ ସନତ୍କୁମାର, ଏବଂ ‘ସନାତନ’ ନାମେ ସ୍ମୃତ।

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nāmāni: names
• nāmāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vakṣyāmi: I shall tell
• vakṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Simple future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• sanakaḥ: Sanaka
• sanakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• sanandanaḥ: Sanandana
• sanandanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat (प्रातिपदिक) + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• vibhuḥ: the mighty one
• vibhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet

• sanātanaḥ: Sanātana
• sanātanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); name/epithet

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/called
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) > smṛta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicative: 'is remembered/called'

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanaka
• Sanandana
• Sanatkumara
• Sanatana

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It formally identifies the four Kumāras—archetypal sages of purity and jñāna—establishing the lineage of authoritative teachers referenced in the Purāṇic narrative.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Indirectly: by naming the Kumāras, it points to realized sages whose teachings commonly culminate in devotion grounded in discernment (jñāna) and detachment, a foundation for Viṣṇu-bhakti in Purāṇic tradition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it functions as a textual marker of teacher-identification (ācārya-nāma) used for transmission and citation of doctrine.